RECENTLY, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya announced plans to increase the price of cigarettes by 27 per cent from RM17 to RM21.50 per pack of 20.
The move is part of the government’s ongoing effort to deter the smoking habit among the public and to prevent our youth from buying and becoming addicted to cigarettes.
This is very much welcome. The government should continue such efforts and take more bold steps on the matter. At the same time, the government needs to find ways to stop the sale of contraband cigarettes because any drastic increase in cigarette prices will ultimately give rise to high demand for smuggled cigarettes.
The government must understand that for heavy smokers and those addicted to cigarettes, it is difficult for them to stop cold turkey. The price of cigarettes will continue to increase but smokers will always find ways to buy cheaper cigarettes.
Contraband or cheap cigarettes are not bound by product and ingredient checks, hence there will increasing health risks for smokers. It is not easy to ascertain the substances used for smuggled cigarettes, and due to the illegal status, many can find their way to our underage consumers.
That is why there a need for greater monitoring of the coming and going of “fake” or illicit cigarettes. Enforcement must be stepped up, and those involved in the sale of contraband must be brought to book. This must be done now before the situation is beyond control.
All relevant enforcement agencies must work together to counter this problem. The customs agency, along with other relevant enforcement bodies, must ensure that our borders are tightly control to stop any illegal importation of the contraband.
The government should also consider amending the current Custom Act 1967 (Act 235) by imposing heavy penalties to curb the cigarette smugglers, dealers, retailers as well as consumers who purchase smuggled cigarettes. There is a need to constantly educate the public on the potential risk posed by smuggled or “fake” cigarettes to their health.
Dr. MUZAFFAR SYAH MALLOW
Senior Lecturer,
Faculty of Syariah & Law,
Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)